Observations, articles, opinions etc. in Dutch and English. The author, Bert de Bruin (Yonathan Dror Bar-On), is a Dutch-Jewish historian, who has specialized in modern Jewish history and in the history of the Middle East, and who in 1995 emigrated from the Netherlands to Israel. He wrote one book (2008), and edited another (2011), both in Dutch. For feedback please post a comment, or send this blog's author an email: (hisdutchname)atyahoodotcom

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

The opponents of an end to the occupation of Gaza make it clear that they believe anything that is done by the authorities but that does not suit their own political goals is un-democratic. On channel 2 I heard a rightwing professor and a rightwing sports commentator for Ma'ariv talk about the undemocratic character of what has been approved for at least the third time by a large Knesset majority ( today alone three bills calling for postponement of the disengagement - but aimed at stopping it entirely - were rejected, with 69-41, 68-43 and 69-40 majorities). How more democratic do they want it? So what if Sharon did not deliver on what he promised before being elected? He is not the first and will not be the past politician to do so. The majority of his party's Knesset members voted with him, and a clear majority of Knesset members has supported him each time there was a vote directly linked to the disengagement plan. If that is not democracy, what is?
It is obvious that the settlers and their supporters will accept political decisions and orders from the security forces only if those orders and decisions mean that they can continue to rule this country, to decide on its economic and military future, and to look down on anyone who is not as 'Zionist' as they claim to be. Anything that endangers their privileges is undemocratic, Nazi-like, bad for the Jews, etc. etc. They represent ( or they are ) G'd, so they can do whatever they want, curse our soldiers, compare them to cossacks or nazis. It is disgusting, many Israelis cannot stand them anymore, yet at the same time they succeed in playing the role of the underdog and gaining sympathy, also because they have no problems using their children. Of course, what they do is the summum of democracy ( Iran-style, perhaps ):